The
U.S. is unwilling to stop the war on
Syria and to settle the case at the negotiation table. It wants a 100% of its
demands fulfilled, the dissolution of the Syrian government and state and the
inauguration of a U.S. proxy administration in Syria.

After the ceasefire in Syria started in late
February Obama broke his pledge to separate the U.S. supported “moderate
rebels” from al-Qaeda. In April U.S. supported rebels, the Taliban like Ahrar
al Sham and al-Qaeda joined to attack the Syrian government in south Aleppo.
The U.S.proxies broke the ceasefire.

Two UN resolutions demand that al-Qaeda in Syria be
fought no matter what. But the U.S. has at least twice asked Russia not to bomb
al-Qaeda. It insists, falsely, that it can not separate its “moderates” from
al-Qaeda and that al-Qaeda can not be attacked because that would also hit its
“moderate” friends.

The Russian foreign minster Lavrov has talked wit
Kerry many times about the issue. But the only response he received were
requests to further withhold bombing. Meanwhile al-Qaeda and the “moderates”
continued to break the ceasefire and to attack the Syrian government forces.

After nearly four month Kerry still insists that
the U.S. needs even more time for the requested separation of its proxy forces
from al-Qaeda. Foreign Minister Lavrov recently expressed the Russian consternation:

The Americans are now saying that they are unable
to remove the ‘good’ opposition members from the positions held by al-Nusra
Front, and that they will need another two-three months. I am under the
impression that there is a game here and they may want to keep al-Nusra Front
in some form and later use it to overthrow the [Assad] regime,” Lavrov said at
the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The bucket was full and Kerry’s latest request for
another three month pause of attacking al-Qaeda was the drop that let it
overflow. Russia now responded by hitting the U.S. where it did not expect to be hit:

Russian warplanes hit Pentagon-backed Syrian
fighters with a barrage of airstrikes earlier this week, disregarding several
warnings from U.S. commanders in what American military officials called the
most provocative act since Moscow’s air campaign in Syria began last year.The
strikes hit a base near the Jordanian border, far from areas where the Russians
were previously active, and targeted U.S.-backed forces battling the Islamic
State militants.
…
These latest strikes occurred on the other side of the country from the usual
Russian operations, around Tanf, a town near where the borders of Jordan, Iraq,
and Syria meet.
…
The Russian strike hit a small rebel base for staging forces and equipment in a
desolate, unpopulated area near the border. About 180 rebels were there as part
of the Pentagon’s program to train and equip fighters against Islamic State.

When the first strikes hit, the rebels called a
U.S. command center in Qatar, where the Pentagon orchestrates the daily air war
against Islamic State.

U.S. jets came and the Russian jets went away. The
U.S. jets left to refuel, the Russian jets came back and hit again. Allegedly two U.S. proxy fighters were killed and 18
were wounded.

Earlier today another such attack hit the same
target.

This was no accident but a well planned operation
and the Russian spokesperson’s response makes the intend clear:

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to confirm
the attack Friday, telling reporters it was difficult to distinguish
different rebel groups from the air.

Translation: “If you can not separate your forces
from al-Qaeda and differentiate and designate exclusively “moderate”
zones we can not do so either.”

The forces near Tanf are supported by U.S.
artillery from Jordan and air power via Iraq. British and Jordan special
operations forces are part of the ground component (and probably the majority
of the “Syrian” fighters.) There is no al-Qaeda there. The Russians know that
well. But they wanted to make the point that it is either separation everywhere
or separation nowhere. From now on until the U.S. clearly separates them from
AQ all U.S. supported forces will be hit indiscriminately anywhere and anytime.
(The Syrian Kurds fighting the Islamic State with U.S. support are for now a
different story.)

The Pentagon does not want any further engagement
against the Syrian government or against Russia. It wants to fight the Islamic
State and its hates the CIA for its cooperation with al-Qaeda and other Jihadi
elements. But John Brennan, the Saudi operative and head of the CIA, still
seems to have Obama’s ear. But what can Obama do now? Shoot down a Russian jet
and thereby endanger any U.S. pilot flying in Syria or near the Russian border?
Risk a war with Russia? Really?

The Russian hit near Tanf was clearly a surprise.
The Russians again caught Washington on the wrong foot. The message to the
Obama administration is clear. “No more delays and obfuscations. You will
separate your moderates NOW or all your assets in Syria will be juicy targets
for the Russian air force.”

The Russian hits at Tanf and the U.S. proxies there
has an additional benefit. The U.S. had planned to let those forces move north
towards Deir Ezzor and to defeat the Islamic State in that city. Eventually a
“Sunni entity” would be established in south east Syria and west Iraq under
U.S. control. Syria would be split apart.

The Syrian government and its allies will not allow
that. There is a large operation planned to free Deir Ezzor from the Islamic
State occupation. Several hundred Syrian government forces have held an
isolated airport in Deir Ezzor against many unsuccessful Islamic State attacks.
These troops get currently reinforced by additional Syrian army contingents and
Hizbullah commandos.A big battle is coming. Deir Ezzor may be freed within the
next few month. Any U.S. plans for some eastern Syrian entity are completely
unrealistic if the Syrian government can take and hold its largest eastern
city.

The Obama administration’s delaying tactic will now
have to end. Russia will no longer stand back and watch while the U.S.
sabotages the ceasefire and supports al-Qaeda.